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Review of Defying Gravity

PUBLICATION DATE: JULY 25, 2016

How could I not read a book called Defying Gravity? It just gives me another excuse to listen to this completely tangential song sung by Idina Menzel: Defying Gravity.

We’ll consider that our station break before the review.

Zoey has known the Madison boys since forever. Her mother and their mother were sorority sisters who stayed friends. Now Zoey lives in Texas with her extremely rich parents and the boys live in Aspen. Two times a year Zoey and her family go to their vacation spot in Aspen and Zoey and the boys reconnect. But this year things are going to be different. Zoey has a huge crush on the oldest Madison boy, Luke, who is a player, but she thinks he’ll turnaround and be different with her. Meanwhile, Parker, the younger Madison, thinks it’s time he tells Zoey that he’s in love with her.

This is a sweet little young adult romance involving snowboarding, heroine peril, and hot beverages. What lifts it slightly above average is that Zoey, despite the fact that she’s a living, breathing, rich barbie-doll, is self-aware. She knows that she’s herself only when she comes to Aspen, although this season, intent on making Luke notice her, she’s resorting to the make-up and clothing that are her armor in Texas. She also changes during the course of the novel, realizing what is important to her ultimately thus being a pretty good role model.

Parker is the kind of character who would have the younger young adult readers talking about book boyfriends and mentioning his name in one breath. He’s got it all: athletic, cute, easy-going, smart, and artistic.

This is appropriate for young adult romance readers, but be aware of the dropping f-bomb.

This is the second book in the Finding Perfect Series. The first is Finding Perfect (which I haven’t read or reviewed, the second is obviously redundant). It’s not necessary to have first read Finding Perfect.

I was given an ARC of this novel by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.